Crisis Moon III

Crisis Moon III is a 2D fighting game published and developed by Orange Soft. It is the sequel to Crisis Moon II: The Hollow Eclipse and the third part of the Crisis Moon series. Released for Arcades (System 202: ENDYMION), PC, PlayStation 4, XBox ONE, Nintendo Wii U, and the Samsung Zeo.

Gameplay

The type-specific ability has been expanded, with each type now having three unique abilities.

Quarter-Moon Type
- Step Cancel Special
- Double Airdash
- Flash Evade: An improved version of the Flash Step that covers the ground faster. Perform a half-circle forward or half-circle back and press Guard.
Half-Moon Type
- Air Steady Guard
- Projectile Reflect
- Chaos Break: Allows the player to use Chaos Mode as a makeshift break. Press L+M+H during an opponent's attack. Consumes one letter from Chaos.
Full-Moon Type
- Dash Boost
- Sabaki: Some moves will cause an automatic counterattack when interrupted with certain moves.
- Advancing Throw: Attacks canceled into a throw will improve the range of a normal throw. Perform a normal attack and cancel it in to a throw by pressing L+M.

The game includes new gameplay mechanics, such as the "Fatal Shatter", a special attack which can be done by pressing H and B simultaneously. This attack works similar to the "Focus Attack" in Street Fighter IV, in that it can be used for countering or as a setup for a combo. A fully-charged Fatal Shatter can also force a Critical Counter hit, causing a long stun period to the recipient, or cause Guard Crush when blocked. However, Fatal Shatters cost a small amount of Luna per usage.

Another new feature is the "Trigger Combo" a special mechanic that allows the player to connect a set combination of buttons to form a combo. Trigger Comobos are done by pressing M and H simultaneously, then inputting the command for the character's Trigger Combo (example: L,M,M,H). Trigger Combos cost a quarter of the Luna meter (half of one level in Quarter-Moon Type) and each character has three pre-set Trigger Combos.

The game also includes "Guerd React", which allows the player to counter a guarded move with an attack at the cost of some Luna. There are three types of Guard React: Advancing, which pushes the opponent toward a certain distance, Attack, which hits the opponent with a standing L, sweep, launcher or Fatal Shatter, depending on the attack buttons pressed, and Trap, which encases the opponent in a Throw. Also when an Attack or Trap-type Guard React is successful, the amount of Vita that the player lost while guarding will be replenished.

Story

The previous Crimson Carnival ended up being halted midway after Count Godfried Dominus discovered that the tournament wasn't according to his plans. However, he instead ordered his minions to kidnap Twilight, garnering Kiyo's attention. As Kiyo reaches the Blood-Drenched Throne, he finds Dominus, waiting for him, behind a cruified Twilight. Dominus explained to Kiyo the reasons for his actions, as well as revealing the truth behind his real parents. Kiyo, in a fit of rage and devastation, runs towards Dominus with his knife in his hand and attempts to slash him, and the fight begins.

The battle went on for hours. Dominus attempted to deactivate Kiyo's Eyes of Future Death using his Eyes of Fate, like what he did in the previous Carnival, but failed after finding out that Kiyo's eyes were shut. In the end, Kiyo was able to defeat Dominus. Dominus then announced that in time, the Origin will awaken, right before succumbing into a bunch of bats. Kiyo then leaves, taking the powerless Twilight with him, thinking that the battle is over.

However, mere hours after Kiyo's exit, the bats began to flock in the Throne, eventually reforming Dominus. With revenge in his mind, Dominus patiently waits, for the last day of the year.

Less than a year later, the New Year's Eve is about to come. Sooner, Twilight's blood will be ripe for the Resurrection. And so, as the Blood Moon rises, Dominus announces the Crimson Carnival.

Meanwhile, the Blood Moon is slowly manifesting itself in the mortal world. Kiyo began to notice the ominous red glow in the moon, but decided to ignore it, thinking it was just an illusion.

One day, while he was walking alone on the street, Kiyo turns around to find a mysyerious woman who has been following him. The woman called Kiyo by his name and warned him about the "Ressurection", right before leaving him in the middle of the street.

Soon after, the Blood Moon reaches its pinnacle, marking the final days before the Resurrection. Thus, the vampires began attacking relentlessly, killing every single person in their sight every night. Amidst the chaos and mass hysteria, Kiyo still has the words of the mysterious woman in mind. He believes that the Resurrection that the woman was talking about and the recent vampire attacks are connected.

Meanwhile, Twilight is forcing herself to control her bloodlust, struggling every single night as her urges become stronger. Until one day, Twilight goes missing, leaving only a white enveloped drenched in blood. Inside the envelope was an invitation to the Crimson Carnival, alongside a note: Help me.

Kiyo soon discovers the envelope and sets out to find Twilight and stop the Resurrection from happening.

Characters

Returning

Kiyo Kamiya

Voiced by: Hiro Shimono (JP), Johnny Yong Bosch (EN)

Twilight

Voiced by: Emiri Kato (JP), Erin Fitzgerald (EN)

Motoko Tsukagami

Voiced by: Kana Asumi (JP), Carrie Keranen (EN)

Abel of the Light

Voiced by: Norio Wakamoto (JP), Travis Willingham (EN)

Kagetsu

Voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa (JP), David Vincent (EN)

Mida Curtis

Voiced by: Atsuko Tanaka (JP), Tara Platt (EN)

Prisoner No. 405

Voiced by: Akio Ohtsuka (JP), Jamieson Price (EN)

Roman Black

Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama (JP, human), Patrick Seitz (EN, human), Pre-recorded howls (wolf)

Terence Reid

Voiced by: Yuko Sanpei (JP), Brina Palencia (EN)

Shekinah

Voiced by: Kanae Ito (JP), Christine Marie Cabanos (EN)

Mr. X

Voiced by: "TAKA" (noises)

The Red Knight

Voiced by: Mugihito (JP), Michael McConnohie (EN)

Count Godfried Dominus

Voiced by: Yasunori Masutani (JP), Crispin Freeman (EN)

Dawn

Voiced by: Akira Ishida (JP), Yuri Lowenthal (EN)

Shiori Yumizuka

Voiced by: Yuko Goto (JP), Cristina Valenzuela (EN)

Lao Shun-Wang

Voiced by: Shigeru Chiba (JP), Kirk Thornton (EN)

Ermingarde Lenne Stridelfeld

Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya (JP), Laura Bailey (EN)

Doppelganger

Voiced by: None

Kira Kamiya

Voiced by: Hiro Shimono (JP), Johnny Yong Bosch (EN)

New

Reisuke Kamiya

Voiced by: Tatsuhisa Suzuki (JP), Todd Haberkorn (EN)

Kiyo's adoptive brother and a trublesome high-school delinquent. Fights with a shinai.

Mitsuru Himezawa

Voiced by: Natsuko Kuwatani (JP), Michelle Ruff (EN)

A powerful psychic known as "Princess Paper" who seeks to avenge her sister's death. Fights with papers.

HADES Unit-001

Voiced by: Robotic noises

A prototype warfare mech created for the purpose of destroying the vampires. Fights with laser-based attacks.

Thea Millford

Voiced by: Yuki Matsuoka (JP), Hynden Walch (EN)

An amnesiac police girl who searches for her lost memories. Fights with a pair of revolvers.

Jeremy Knives

Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino (JP), Spike Spencer (EN)

A notorious serial killer whose bones were turned into steel. FIghts with sharp blades coming out of his body.

Lilith

Voiced by: ???

The resurrected "origin" of the vampire race. Fights with blood. Final boss.

Mordecai Evans

Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya (JP) Bryce Papenbrook (EN)

Ermingarde's half-vampire butler who continues to serve for the Stridelfeld family whilst hiding his true form. Fights bareknuckle [DLC]

Yuuno Kirisaki

Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (JP), Wendee Lee (EN)

The last remaining member of the fallen Kirisaki clan and Kiyo's real mother. Fights with an iai sword [DLC]

Stages

The game features all new-stages, with the previous stages appearing as DLC.

Midnight in Akihabara
Lone Riverbank
Grove of Blossoms
Saving Guidance Sanctuary
Buddha's Rest
Dark Occult Room
Underground Sewers
Endless Plains
Demented Museum
Festival of Neko
Illusionary Void
Volcano
The Blood Sphere
Subway Station
Memory of the Lost
Princess' Playroom
Sunset Rooftop
PowerTime Arcade
Literary Paradise
Military Armory
Crime Scene
Sanitariun Gates
The Birthplace
Grid-III

Game Modes

Offline

Arcade (Enjoy Crisis Moon III in this perfect transition of the arcade to your home. 10 stages with 9 normal fights (matches 4 and 9 are against a "rival") and 1 final boss battle. Two player support)
Versus (Gather your friends and challenge them in a heated battle, or just sit back and engage in a fight with the CPU. Two player/VS. CPU mode)
Score Attack (Battle against a series of opponents to get the highest score. Similar to Arcade, except without continues. One player only)
Survival (See how many challengers you can defeat with one life meter. One player only.)
Tower
Tutorial (Learn the fundamentals of the game, from the basics to the most advanced techniques. One player only)
Challenges (Perform a set of exercises exclusive to each character. One player only)
Story (Unfold the story behind the Crimson Carnival. Story mode is in the style of BlazBlue, with a visual novel like setup consisting of dialogue, text, multiple endings (a bad ending, a joke ending and the true ending), fights and animated cutscenes by J.C.Staff. One player only)
Gallery (Enjoy the music, videos and illustrations. Includes artwork, videos, sound test, medals etc.)
Options (Adjust the game's settings to your liking. Includes game options, controller setup and various other settings)

Online

Online Lobby (Challenge players from around the world. One online lobby supports up to 4 players, 2 players and 2 spectators)
Account Settings (Adjust the settings of your account. Includes settings for Sansung Apps LIVEPLAY accounts)

Update

Crisis Moon III EVOLVE is an update of Crisis Moon III. Crisis Moon III EVOLVE includes the DLC characters from the start and contains additional content such as redesigned stages and three additional characters. It will be released for Arcades (System 202: ENDYMION), PC and the Samsung Zeo.

Trivia

The Japan and US versions of the game will receive different songs in its intro: "Raison d'être" by Nightmare in the Japanese version, and "Anthem of the Lonely" by Nine Lashes for the US version. The music videos for both Raison d'être and Anthem of the Lonely (as seen above) are available as unlockable items in the game's Gallery mode.
The game's default announcer is Saori Hayami. However, in the console version, the player can unlock an alternate, male announcer (Hiroki Yasumoto) as well as the voices of the main characters as announcers.
The story mode introduction was supposed to show the damage that the vampires have caused, and some European countries are implied to be under state of calamity, including France. Following the November 2015 Paris attacks, later pressings of the PAL versions remove any mention of the state of calamity in Europe in the intro, though Ermingarde still mentions the state of calamity in her story mode.
This game marks Miyu Matsuki's final video game role, as Mitsuru's late sister Mitsuki Himezawa. Thus, her lines were'nt re-recorded for EVOLVE.
Doppelganger was removed from the original arcade version of Crisis Moon III, but external codes revealed that data of the "character" is still in the game. Doppelganger is fully functional in the arcade version, but the game glitches upon reaching the final boss battle with Lilith, as she is not meant to be played in this version.
The #12 and #14 reference color palettes remain in the game, alongside a new #17 reference pallette and the new characters gaining their own reference palettes:

Kiyo Kamiya	Color 12	Kojou Akatsuki (Strike the Blood)
	Color 15	Yu Narukami (Persona 4)
	Color 17	Keima Katsuragi (The World God Only Knows)
Twilight	Color 12	Merry Nightmare (Yumekui Merry)
	Color 15	Kaori Kanzaki (A Certain Magical Index)
	Color 17	Katarina du Couteau (League of Legends)
Motoko Tsukagami	Color 12	Botan (Yu Yu Hakusho)
	Color 14	Reimu Hakurei (Touhou)
	Color 17	Isuzu (Kantai Collection)
Abel of the Light	Color 12
	Color 14
	Color 17
Kagetsu	Color 12	Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)
	Color 14	Chipp Zanuff (Guilty Gear)
	Color 17	Hiryu (Strider)
Dawn	Color 12	Dio Brando (Jojo's Bizzare Adventure)
	Color 14
	Color 17
Shiori Yumizuka	Color 12	Yuno Gasai (Future Diary)
	Color 14	Rena Ryuugu (Higurashi: When They Cry)
	Color 17	Tomoko Kuroki (No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm not Popular!)
Lao Shun-Wang	Color 12
	Color 14
	Color 17
Ermingarde Lenne Stridelfeld	Color 12	Shinku (Rozen Maiden)
	Color 14
	Color 17
Kira Kamiya	Color 12	Ryuunosuke Uryuu (Fate/Zero)
	Color 14	Iori Yagami (The King of Fighters)
	Color 17	Nagito Komaeda (Dangan Ronpa 2)
Reisuke Kamiya	Color 12	Yoshitake Tanaka (Daily Lives of Highschool Boys)
	Color 14
	Color 17
Mitsuru Himezawa	Color 12	Kurisu Makise (Steins;Gate)
	Color 14	Yomi (Azumanga Daioh)
	Color 17	Kazuyoshi "Switch" Usui (SKET Dance)
Jeremy Knives	Color 12	Takaya Sakaki (Persona 3)
	Color 14	Ashley Mizuki Robbins (Another Code)
	Color 17
Thea Millford	Color 12
	Color 14
	Color 17
Mordecai Evans	Color 12	Hayate Ayasaki (Hayate the Combat Butler)
	Color 14
	Color 17